Pistons-Timberwolves, a blast for the future.

Wonderful game, especially for hardcore Pistons fans who have been clamoring to see the end-of-the-bench guys play significant minutes.
The starting five was comprised of Tayshaun and Dyess, as usual, but also Stuckey, Hayes and Ratliff. The latter two were chosen to start the game because of their experience, I guess. It made sense. But watching the game last night, I couldn´t help but notice that a pattern seen on several occasions this season repeated itself, albeit in these widely different circumstances.

Once again, after the starting five dug itself in a hole in the first quarter, it was under the impulsion of the bench that the Pistons came back to life in the second quarter. They came back from a 21-point deficit and ended up within 5 at the half. But the third quarter saw on the court the starting five (minus Hayes, who had a really bad game, replaced by Afflalo), and although they stayed within striking distance, they just didn´t inflict the same damage as the Zoo Crew in the second quarter.

Ironic, isn´t it? The starters holding the fort, and the bench guys making the win happen? But like I said, these were widely different circumstances. Usually, when that happens, it´s because the regular starting five can´t mutter any energy and go through the motions thinking they can just flip the switch on (yes, they still do that).
But this time it wasn´t because of a half-hearted effort and entitlement. The guys on the floor just didn´t click with each other.

It´s a strange thing, on-court chemistry. Some guys really don´t complement each other well, others have a so-so link, and sometimes, some rare times, players have an instinctual understanding of what the others do on the floor, and just mesh well as a team.

And in this case, as the game unfolded, I just realized Detroit has it in droves (all hail Joe Dumars) between certain players. I mean, for Thor´s sake, Samb is the 15th Piston, Herrmann is probably the 13th, Amir is the 8th, and still, those three on the floor at the same time just sparked a 14-0 run at the end of the second. They drove the other team crazy. Defensively, they outrebounded and blocked the other team into submission, and offensively, they insisted and hustled, and since all three are gifted with a soft shooting touch, it was a just an all-around great display. I loved it to pieces.

Seriously, how great is Joe D.? That frontcourt just clicks, and I hope we´ll get other occasions to see it in the last games. Add to that a rookie backcourt that hustles just as much and shows a lot of smarts (still inconsistently, but when both Afflalo and Stuckey have proved an individual feel for the game and at times a developping rapport, there are many reasons to be optimistic), and frankly, the Zoo Crew really is something to be passionate about.

A quick recap: Stuckey can be great offensively, is dedicated defensively, and is still miles away from reaching his potential; Afflalo is just a smart, smart player, in the mold of Tayshaun Prince, can do the job offensively and is a scary defender; Lindsey Hunter can change games with 5 minutes of playing time, by hounding the opposing team´s backcourt ferociously and engineering runs; Juan Dixon is always a tenacious defender, is smart on the court and willing to find the open man, and can always have games where he will shoot lights out and score prolifically; Jarvis Hayes has progressed on defense and plays at a very acceptable level, and on offense can sometimes produce points in a hurry and become an unstoppable nightmare; Walter Herrmann is just a good bballer, scores consistently and in a variety of ways, busts his ass every single time, defends remarkably well against certain star players, and makes things happen for his team on the court consistently; Jason Maxiell is a beast unafraid to go against anyone, always rebounding with passion and cleaning up the boards, with a developping jumper and a reliable FT; Amir is a great young player who changes games with his athleticism and hustle, a good prospect both on offense and on defense, a shot-blocking machine, and still miles away from his potential; Theo Ratliff is a veteran who fits in, plays aggressive, does everything his team needs, defends the paint as well as the starting bigs and forces the other team to account for him in the paint; and Cheikh Samb is a young big who has only started to play, has a very soft shooting touch, busts his ass out every single time, is another shot-blocking machine, and just fits very well on the floor when given a chance to play.

This is just unbelievable. But here´s the big but: underachievement.